Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 44

DETROIT FREE PRESS WW.EREEP.COM THE LIST! ICE FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2004 JJr miikt Tii in" TilrriWrm-Mi-TWtrnnirTifti -'4 1 4 i MARIS STRYKER JA2.Z CLASSICAL HIGHLIGHTS Big weekend fortheDSO CLASSICAL There's a lot to pay attention to this week at Orchestra Hall. First off, the guy on the podium, Mark Wigglesworth, has emerged as a potential successor to Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Neeme Jarvi, who steps down in 16 months. Wigglesworth, a 39-year-old Brit, has been impressive in two visits as a guest conductor, and the table is set this weekend for another revealing set of concerts. That brings us to the second and third reasons A A iVi Lettie Alston's to pay attention: an intriguing program that includes Benjamin Britten's rarely heard song cycle "Leslllu- concerts at Oakland University have become must-see events.

iTTnt ii i ii Aw ACirrSi A i rftro RACHEL MAY LOCAL MUSIC NEWS NOTES Sex and love are in the air Deciding where to go and what to do on Valentine's Day can be a challenging duty. Local musicians are playing cupid, with several events planned that will help you serenade your sweetheart. THE VENUS BALL IS GIRL POWER at its finest. And this year, the annual showcase of local female talent will grow from one day to two, filling the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Feb. 13-14.

Don't let Friday the 13th superstition sway you from going out. Singer Nikki James will host the Feb. 13 lineup, which will include singer-songwriters Liz Larin, Tamara Bedricky, Iris and Carolyn Striho Rosalyn Mazzola along with pop-rock band the Killer Flamingos. Hearts keep pumping with fabulously funky host Linda Lexy on Feb. 14 and a mix of sounds featuring blues diva Thornetta Davis, female-led rockers Stealing Alan's Rights, the eloquently rhythmic sounds of R.I.B., folk songstress Whit Hill the Postcards and singer-songwriter Rachel White.

On both nights, artist Kris Castor is set to paint musically inspired scenes live onstage during each performance. Admission is $8 each night, and doors will open at 8 p.m. Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward, Ferndale. 248-544-3030. AT THE 17TH ANNUAL EROTIC POETRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, set for Feb.

14 at Alvin's in Detroit, you'll find a combination of erotic art, kinky poetry and hot music. The not-for-the-faint-of-heart event will be hosted by dominant duo the Impaler and Mistress Donna. It will feature giam rockers City Call Girls, eclectic cabaret act Terror at the Opera with Sweetheart, flirtatious rockers Choking Susan and Roshambo and acoustic music from Fig. Featured poets will include the foul-mouthed Jimmy Doom. Sexually explicit poetry, will be offered by Cindi St.

Germain, Blair, Soulspeak, Vic Toledo, Tuka, Rod Reinhart and more. Enjoy erotic art by Jeff Hocking and Faith Gazic while browsing the sexy wares by Karma and Suzy Sandy's Relationship Enhancements. Doors will open at 8 p.m., and admission is $8. Some proceeds will benefit Paws with a Cause. Alvin's, 5756 Cass, Detroit.

313-831-4577. pushing the envelope on eroticism is the Dirty Show, a controversial erotic art exhibition with creations from Detroit's dirtiest minds and beyond. It's set for Feb. 13-15 at Tangent Gallery in Detroit. The Dirty Show offers fantasy and fetish art and features installations, live performance and erotica in all 'mediums.

Burlesque dancers and DJs will entertain guests beginning at 8 p.m. Feb. 13-14 and noon Feb. 15. Tangent Gallery, 715 Milwaukee, Detroit.

For more: www.dirtydetroit.com. RACHEL MAY, lead singer and guitarist for local band Bmadzilla, compiles the Free Press' music listings. Send show dates or local music news to rmayafreepress.com or by fax at 313-223-4726. Contact her at at 313-222-5990. I 111 I I Jr Jr 1 1 Jr I IjyQ minations based on prose-poems by Arthur Rimbaud and the DSO debut of the fresh-voiced, expressive soprano Dawn Upshaw.

Flanking the Britten cycle are Mozart's Symphony No. 31 and Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 5. 8 p.m. Friday, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday. (Wigglesworth conducts the same program without the Britten work during the DSO's informal "Classical Conversations" concert at 3 p.m. Sunday with Thomas Wilkins as the host. $28.) Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward 313-576-5111 UNDER THE BANNER of "Lettie Alston and Friends," concerts led by the Oakland University composer have become must- see events for metro Detroiters interested in contemporary music.

Alston generally works with a theme, from electronic music to music by women composers. This year, the 10th anniversary of the series, Alston turns to music by African and African-American composers. The program includes an Alston premiere and pieces by Cedric Ayo Bankole, Margaret Bond, Valerie Capers, Atkin Euba, William Grant Still and others, with various works employing voice, piano, African drumming and narration. 8 p.m. Saturday, Varner Recital Hall, Oakland University campus, Auburn Hills.

$15, adults; $8, students and seniors. JAZZ Looks like we've got a jazz organ festival brewing this weekend in Ann Arbor. At the Bird of Paradise, Gerard Gibbs Organized Crime take center stage. A Detroiter, Gibbs is a force of nature a dynamite organist with a big-time resume, equally at home in jazz, blues and funk, who has put together a firecracker trio in his own image. 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 312 S. Main 734-662-831. MEANWHILE, THE FIREFLY CLUB, presents Organissimo, a fast-rising trio from the Lansing area featuring Jim Alfredson on the Hammond B3, Joe Gloss on guitar and Randy Marsh on drums. These guys are comfortable stomping the blues, swinging a standard and digging into a funky boogaloo. 9 p.m.

Friday, 207 S. Ashley, $8. 734-665-9090. Times Square Detroit Dance Party with DJ Roc Boy, 9 p.m. Fri.

1431 Times Square, Detroit. 313-961-0232. Tonic: Two Level dance party with DJ Joey 9 p.m. Sat. 29 S.

Saginaw, Pontiac. 248-334-7411. Trench Town Reggae Club: "Roots, Rock 4 Reggae," 11 p.m. Fri. "DanceHall Explosion," with music by Strictly Roots, 11 pm-5 a m.

Sat. 3919 Woodward. Detroit. 313-831 -8552 or 31 3-836-8686. White Heather Club: Ballroom dancing 8-11 p.m.

every Sun. Free refreshments. 1 50 Vester, Ferndale. $6. 313-521-6564.

Wooly Bully's: Dance party with DJ John "the Bomb" every 36434 Groesbeck, Clinton Twp. 586-792-3444. TV music by Dr. Grangelove, 8 p. m.

Sat. 3337 Ann Arbor Saline Road, Ann Arbor. $8, $7 members, $5 students. 734-769-1052. Posh Nightclub and Ultra Lounge: Grand Opening Parties 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Attire is dressy. 22061 Woodward, Ferndale. $10. 248-541-7674. Rain: DJ Melle-Mel, 9 p.m.

Fri. "Hypnotiq Sundays" with DJ Paul Martindale, 9 p.m. Sun. 31185 Utlca, Fraser. 586-296-8533.

Sevln the Nightclub: "Miami Vice Fridays" with a Prince Look-Alike Contest and DJ Turbo 9 p.m. Fri.DJ Ryan Richards, 8 p.m. Sat. 40 W. Pike, Pontiac.

248-745-7461. ShoteDJ Dance Party with DJ Ignite and DJ Bub, 8 p.m. 21630 John Hae) Park. 248-546-7483. Southwestern Bar Grille: Salsa lesson and dancing with DJ Jimmy Barrios, 9 am.

1 103 E.LPke Drive, Novl. 248-668-9005. Space Pontiac: Dance party with Lisa Lisa, 10 m. Frl. 15 S.

Saginaw, Pontiac. 248-262-6858. Stardust Southfleld: Dance Parry. 9 p.m. -midnight Fri.

28651 Northwestern Hwy Southfleld. 248-356-5678. Stats Theatre: "Altered Detroit group Jettison Red holds its CD-release party Saturday at Small's in Hamtramck. Fri.DJ Flexxx.9pm.Sat.630 Woodward, Detroit. 31 3-962-4508.

Harry's: "Friday Fix" with Derek Fox, 9 p.m. Frl. 2482 Clifford, Detroit. 31 3-964-1575. Heat Salsa Night with DJ Cisco and free dance lessons, 8 p.m.

Frl. Arabic Night with DJ Art, 9 p.m. Sat. 2 N.Saginaw, Pontiac. 248-756-4821.

Labyrinth: Dance party with guest DJs, 10 p.m. every Ramada Inn, 1703 Cass, Detroit. $10. 31 3-962-2300. LelandClty Club: Dance party 10 p.m.

every 400 Bagley. Detroit. $10. 313-962-2300. Livonia Civic Center: Moondusters ballroom dancing to live music by Mike Wolverton from the '40s, '50s and '60S, 1:30 p.m.

Sat. Dance lessons 7-8 p.m. $4, $3 If you attend the dance. Dressy attire. 15218 Farmington Road, Livonia.

$6. 248-968-5197. Metro: Dance Party with DJ Johnnie Thong. 9 p.m. Frl.

DJ Speed E.Smith, 9 p.m. Sat. 2275 Ellsworth, Ann Arbor. 734-434-0800. Okun't Plaza: Live music with Rock Nation, spoken word artists K-A, Mike Anthony.

Angel Rivers, DJ dancing, open mic poetry and more, 9 a.m. Sat. 9611 Dundee, Detroit. $10, $7 before 10 p.m. 31 3-673-5443.

Panacea: Man at Large, with DJ Godfather and DJ Who, 10 m. every Frl. DJ Icey, 10 pm. Sat. 205 W.

Congress, Detroit. 31 3-965-8200. Plttsfleld Grange: First Saturday ContraJjance, with 4-N rffli Moda" with DJ Nick Nader, 9 p.m. Sun. 1540 Woodward, Detroit.

313-222-1900. Centre Street Top Kat, 10 p.m. Frl. Todd Osbom and Shortround, 10p.m.Sat. 311 E.

Grand River, Detroit 31 3-965-3651. Clutch Cargo Friday Wild with Mike Scroggs.DJ Cue, DJ Drew and Jevon Hollywood, 10 p.m. Frl. "XLR8TI0N" with DJ Junior, DJ Spaceghost, Fatty Matty and the Technician. 9 p.m.

Sat.65E.Huron,Pontiac.21 and older. 248-333-2362. Dance Gallery Studio: Danes performance followed by open dancing. 8:30 p.m. Sat.

815 Wildt, Ann Arbor. 734-996-1772. Emerald Ballroom: "Foreplay Fridays" with DJRublx Cube and Bill Walters, 9pm Frl. "Sonic Saturdays" with DJ Mike Fresh and Holly, 9 p.m. Sat.

31 N. Walnut. Mt. Clemens. 586-91 3-1920.

Freedom Hill County Park: Country Dance, 7-1 1:30 p.m. Frl. Independence 1 5000 Metropolitan Parkway, Max M. Fisher Music Center, 371 1 Woodward, Detroit. $1 5-- Brunch with Bach: Featuring Desmond Neysmitti, cello, 11 :30 a.m.

Sun. Detroit institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit. 313-833-4005. Peter Richard Conta, organist, 4 p.m. Sun.

Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, 8625 E. Jefferson, Detroit. 313-822-3456. Metropolitan Youth Sympyhony: "Winter Concert," 8 p.m. Sun.

Orchestra Hall, $5, $10. 586-944-7770. Mosaic Singers: featuring conductor Kenneth Anderson, 8 p.m. Fit-Sat. and 3 p.m.

Sun. Music Box at Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward, Detroit. $12, $18. 313-576-5111.

DANCING 21) i Amber House: Dancing with i DJ music of all types. 8 p.m. Sat. 7012 E. Nine Mile, Warren.

$7. 588-754-3434. Bleu Boom: "Bounce" with DJ Mike Anthony, 9 p.m. Frl. "Cupid Night Out" with DJ Vines, Ifl p.m.

Sat. "Club State," with DJ Mike Scroggs, DJ Godfather. DJ Martin Hodge and DJ Mike Czech, 9 pm. Sat. 21 15 Woodward, Detroit.

31 3-961 -5450. Sterling Sports Pub: DJ kA-lJ 9 m. Sat. 37722 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights. Sir Sterling Heights.

$8. Free parking. 586-795-8778. Good Ltfe Lounge: Pannos L..